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J. L. HUDSON, SEEDSMAN, BOX 337, LA HONDA, CALIFORNIA 94020-0337 USA

TO OUR CLIENTS

This will be the 51st year Ms. Calkins and I have been distributing seeds, and the 114th year since the founding of the firm by Harry E. Saier.

This year there are 78 new (and returning) seed listings, including 14 new vegetable varieties and one book.

THE CURRENT SITUATION
Well, 2023 turned out to be quite a wild ride, starting with a failed ransomware attack. Expensive to have data recovered, but out digital realm is up and running again. An unusual snowfall closed the roads for a while, and it was a cool spring and summer, but we had some great harvests. Disruptions of seed supplies continue—the USDA banned imports of tomato and pepper seed, and we are getting more reports of off-types, particularly among peppers, so be sure to let me know of any misdescribed seeds.

More economic chaos is expected, but again we are holding the line and keeping the base packet price at $2.50, and almost all sizes unchanged. There will be bulk price changes, so please check the website for current prices.

ADAM TURTLE
I would like to honor the passing of friend and seed grower Adam Turtle. He will be missed and not forgotten. His work lives on in your garden.

COLLECTION NUMBERS
So what do the numbers like BK12345.2 mean? These identify the collector and exact location where the original seed was collected, so all plants propagated from that collection can be traced back to that location. This has value for conservation purposes, so we encourage everyone to include this information when passing these plants along in the future.

I've changed the old two-letter packet size/germination code to a single number in parentheses—easier for most people to use. Remember that these are just the approximate minimum number of seed in the packet, and usually you will get more. I'm sure I've made some mistakes along the way, so bear with me—if you receive a packet that is way out of line with the catalog count, just let me know. I think it was Salvador Dali who said "Don't fear perfection because you will never achieve it."

As many of you requested, I've added hardiness Zone numbers for some 400 species in the catalog. Looking these up in various references reminded me again why I don't like the Zone numbers: Way too many are just guesswork, and many are flat-out wrong. For example, the same species will be variously listed as Zone 8, Zone 6, or Zone 5, and I may have seen that very species growing in a garden solidly in Zone 4. Or a species may be rated Zone 6, yet maps of its natural range extend well into Zone 3, and the seed I'm distributing was gathered in Zone 5. So how should I rate it? Hardiness may vary considerably according to the origin of the seed. One local plant that I gather here in Zone 9 ranges into Zone 3, but I doubt it would do well planted that far north. So take the Zones for what they are worth—a guide only, and don't be afraid to experiment!

Governments around the world continue to clamp down on the free flow of seeds. The USDA continues to fulfill its stated goal of destroying small farms and independent plant-based businesses through regulations explicitly designed to disadvantage the small producer. "Get big or get out!" said Earl Butz, Secretary of Agriculture under Nixon, and this policy continues to this day with Monsanto connections in the Obama administration. This is not a partisan issue—both parties are irredeemably corrupted by corporate monies. 'Republican vs. Democrat' is a shell game. The FDA is shutting down independent herb producers and restricting access to foods and supplements. In the European Union, medicinal plants are being banned, and the Codex Alimentarius is destroying local, artisanal food production by shutting down small producers.

Agriculture departments in many countries are making small-scale imports and exports impossible.

Many seeds we just can't import anymore, and we have to go through unbelievably wasteful and expensive contortions to bring others in. Enjoy them while you can!

Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!

If you need a bulk quantity of anything we list that has no bulk price, just write or email me at JLH(at)JLHudsonSeeds.net, and I'll quote you a price on whatever amount is in stock and available for immediate delivery.

Because of the unstable value of the dollar against other currencies, the prices of imported seed are uncertain. Please check website for current bulk prices.

The white list is still coming. It is already in place in Australia and New Zealand, where it now costs over $30,000.00 to get permission to import a single new species of plant!

I encourage everyone to have a look at the new bulk seed list, as we are adding a lot of information that will be useful to everyone, including the number of seeds per weight unit. This is limited only by my lack of time - there are only so many hours in the day. So please send me your spare time!

I also encourage you to check out the other sources we list. We all need to support independent plantsmen. Send me the names and addresses of your favorite diversity-rich, information-rich mail-order seed and plant sources.

EDIBLE and MEDICINAL PLANTS
Occasionally we mention the edible or medicinal properties of plants as they have been reported in the literature. This is solely to point out promising plants to competent researchers, and for historical interest, and we make no claims in this regard. Self-experimentation with medicinal or edible wild plants can be very dangerous, due to toxins and allergic reactions. Do not experiment!

NO GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED SEED
We do not distribute any genetically-engineered seeds (Transgenics).
In the future we may expect transgenic traits to escape from GE plants and pass by natural means into traditional and heirloom plants. Eventually, the entire food supply may become modified, and none of us will have any choice in the matter.
Statement on Transgenics

TREATED or UNTREATED SEED?
Whenever possible we avoid seed that has been treated with pesticide. A few species (fewer than 10) are highly subject to insect infestation and are only available from collectors already treated with pesticide. Sometimes this is required by law. In these cases we wash the seed before distributing. All treated seed are labeled as such in the catalog and the packets are clearly labeled. If you want untreated seed only, please say so on your request.
Currently, only the following seeds have been treated with pesticide:

Dalea spinosa

SEED EXCHANGE
If you would like to collect seed from the wild, or save seed from unusual plants in your garden, and would like to exchange this seed with me for credit on your requests, ask for the 'Seed Exchange' pamphlet, which also includes 'How to Collect Seed'.

HELP STOP THE 'WHITE LIST'
The government is proposing new regulations that will ban the possession and distribution of 99% of all living species! Read about it and find out what you can do to stop this.

GIBBERELLIC ACID-3 (GA-3) PRIMED SEED
We are pleased to introduce seed which has been pre-treated with gibberellic acid for quick germination. This is a new process we developed which allows you to just plant ordinarily slow and difficult seeds, and achieve rapid germination without prolonged pre-treatments or making GA-3 solutions yourself. Only a few types are available, but more will follow as research progresses.
Gibberellic acid-primed seed are listed like this:
—Atropa Belladonna GA-3. (100) ATRO-1G. Packet: $3.00

SORRY, NO TELEPHONE!
I HAVE NO BUSINESS OR PERSONAL TELEPHONE. Please do not call anyone named Hudson who is listed in the La Honda directory, as you will only disturb someone not connected with me. I do my web work off-site as we are off the grid.
"If your 'phone doesn't ring, its me!"—J.L.H.
WE ARE NOT SET UP TO RECEIVE VISITORS.

IF YOU MOVE
When giving us your new address, please give your old address so we can remove it from the list.

ATTENTION GARDEN WRITERS
Ask for our Garden Writer's Information Sheet, and send us a current clipping, and we will put you on our Garden Writers mailing list.


Home ] Catalog ] Out of Stock ] [ To Our Clients ] How To Request Seeds ] Gibberellic Acid ] Darwin ] Seed Exchange ] Search ] How to Germinate Seed ] Links ] Argyreia I.D. ] Other Sources ] Natives Vs. Exotics ] Essays ] How to Pronounce Botanical Names ] Statement of Purpose ] Hugh Thompson ] J.L.Hudson, Seedsman Site Map ] Internships ]